Engine shipping case



Feb. 8, 1949. H. ALLINGTON 2,460,797

ENGINE SHIPPING CASE Filed Jupe 19, 1944 2 sheets-sheet 1 +9 f4! +14, ff

I ff L; E L n@ J= ab Feb. s, 1949.` G. H. ALLINGTON 2,460,797

ENGINE SHIPPING CASE Filed June 19, 1944 2 sheeeizs--SheerI 2 j2me/WI Vwall lof the case-cover.

which extends the full width of the plywood casebottom 21 and is secured to the sections 29 and 30 of' thecase-bottom by its-.outwardly directed flanges 3Ifsuitably by rivets inithe manner illustrated in Fig. 6 for the channel-member 32. The Y opposite side edges of the panelA II are-slidably received in'two other sheet Ymetal channel-menibers 32 and 33 which extend the `full height of Ythe case-cover 26, the channellmember 32 'being disposed between the sectionsV 34 `and 35 of the one plywoodl side wall of the case-cover, and the channel-member 33 being, .disposed vbetween the sections 36 and 31 of theiotherplywood-side The channel-members 32 and 33 are secured by their outwardly projecting anges 3I to the adjacent wallsectio'ns by rivets 38, asmost clearly appears in Fig. 6,

Vreinforcing metal strips 39 of angular crosssection being placed overthe 'edges of the plywoodwall sections, and the rivet's'being-'passed through registering holes in thesestrips and in the plywood `and flanges, vas shown.v vIn that way there isno4 danger of the rivets splintering the plywood, the angular metal strips 39 affording the 'desired amount Vof bearing surface to disn" Vtribute the load sufllciently'to prevent splintering. .'IVlfiertopswall of thecase-coveris made in two sections like'the two side walls, as indicated at 4Il'and' 4I in Fig. 2,V anda sheet metal'channel-member42 is disposed between these sectionsfandriveted theretof'byits outwardly directed angesl, `asyindicated at 38, annular sheet ,metal strips 39 being provided VIover the edges Yof theV plywood sections 4I! and 4I, similarly as in thefother portions o f the cover.- The end Vwalls'43 and 44 ofthe case-cover 26 are also of plywood'like the rest` of the cover. It fshould be clear that when the case-cover 26 is dropped i'down over the engine, l the two-piece panel YI IY enters thechannels 32,l 33, andy 4'2 and is, therefore, interlocked along allV four edges" with the case-cover 26 and case-bottom 21, inasmuch lower'niain panel section lI2 has apairlof brace rods 45Y disposed diagonally between `the caselmo'ttonuandY the' paneland bolted 'to' the casef bottomv at 46 and tothe panel sectionV I2 at 41,

whereby to lgive thefdesired rigidity to the panel v.

section I2Vforl support of the engine 'when the kcase-cover is notlin placeV over'i'the engine and fastened to the case-bottom. 7VAnother pair of brace rods 43 extend-s diagonally between the being bolted Vto the bottom 21 by the vrsame'bol'ts v46 used in'connection with'thebracerods 45 and Ybeing secured Yto the support Y23 by other cause any enlargement of the bolt holes, a1- though it will, of course, be clear that due to the interlocked relationship of the two-piece panel I I and the case-cover 26 and bottom 21, the bolts 46 are not called upon to assume'any great load YA'in the shipment of an engine.

The brace rods 45 yand 48 being all disposed in acute angular re- `lationship to the side walls oi the case and in 'acute angular relationship to one another, as clearly appearsin Fig. 2,7instead of in parallel relationship, give compound reinforcement to the engine mounting. These rods 45 and 43 are furthermore disposed most advantageously with relation to the engine 1, so that maximum working clearance is left on both sides of the'engine, which, of course, is of advantage both in packing and unpacking.

When the case-cover'is slipped down over the engine, it may be fastened at the bottom to the case-bottom 21 along all four sides thereof, there being hollow sheet metal frame members 52 of square cross-section, as shown in Fig. 5, permanently securedto the edges of theV plywood piecesV 29 and 30 by their inwardly 'projecting anges 53, as by means of rivets 38 entered through sheet metal strips 39 of angulaif form, similarly as in Fig. 6.' The' other flange removal andreplacementof the ease-cover; The 2;'

bo1t`s'49.,Y Thefsupport 23 is,rtherefore` connected with the panel section IZthrough the brace rods 45 and 48 against displacement in 'addition to Y being braced with'the Ypanel section I2 relative Y vto thelcase-bottom 21.V 'I wov skids 50 extend lengthwise oi the undersideV of thecase-bottom cas-'bottom v21,V so' that whatever loads are iinposed on the'boltsf4`6in the shipment'foffthe engineare' notapt to splinter the case-'l'mttorn or 54 Aon each 'of these framegmembers ha-s holes A5,5punched therein to receive self-tapping screws 56,l which are entered through holes in sheet metal strips 39 of angular cross-section and l. through holes provided therefor Yin the lower edge portionspf the Vside and end'walls of the case- 4cover.. YThe side and end walls, it should` be clear from Fig; 2, are secured together at the corners Iby Vsheet metal frame. members' 52a. of Vsimilar form to the frame members 52, but all of these corners are riveted together, and the same is true `in regard to the top corners where frame members 52b of similar formare provided, yas indicated in'Fig. Y1, thereibeing no necessity for detachable connections. atV any of these corners, and, hence, no necessity for the use of screws.

It is believed the foregoing description conveys a good understandingof the objects and advantages ofmy invention. The appended claims have been drawn to cover all legitimate vmodifieations and adaptations. i

. .1. In an engine shipping case for a radial airicraft kengine-having a generally cylindrical crank case portion projecting from thecenter'of the group of cylinders, said shipping case comprising a" lower generally rectangular case section and a hollow generally rectangular cover section adapt- Y Y t edto be assembled on tl e ti l t case-bottom 21 and thevsupport 23, these rods z-lle lower case S c or no len closean engine supported on the latter, an engine of the Vkind mentioned, and engine supporting means comprising a rectangular panel made in tworectangular halves, namely, a lower panelhalf rigidly secured to the lower case section and cut out to receive and being rigidly secured to a portion of thecrank case of the en- {21A'andare bolted to thevtwo sections-29 and 30 gine for support, Vand an upper panel hal-f also out out to receive and being rigidly secured to s another portion of the crank case of the engine for support, thepanel halves being held together 'in coplanar relationship lbytheengine secured Ahandling thereof. The skids have 'the bolts 43'*V 4.extended therethroughV as well as throughlthef--fthereto, whereby to form an integral panel, and

means including grooves in the lower case section and hollow Ycover section closely receiving ,edge portions of said panel halves to supportV the i panel in rigid relation tothe assembled case.

2. An engine `shipping case asset forth in claim l, wherein the engine has apower shaft'lprojecting from the crankA case in parallel relation to the longitudinal axis thereof, the shipping case including an outboard support in spaced relation to the engine supporting panel carrying a bearing whose longitudinal axis is substantially longitudinally alignedV with the engine receiving open-ing in the panel receivingv the powershaft of the engine toprovide auxiliary supportfor the engine, and means for securing sai'd support in rigid relation to the lower case section.

In an engine shipping casey for a radial aircraft engine having a generally cylindrical crank case portion projecting from the center of the group of cylinders, said shipping case compris` ing a lower generally rectangular casesection and a hollow generally rectangular cover section adapted to be assembled on the lower case section to enclose an engine supported on the lat'- ter, an engine of the kind mentioned, and engine supporting means comprising a rectangular panel having an opening provided therein receiving a portion of the engine, meansl ior securing the engine to the panel when disposed in the open ing, said engine having a power shaft projecting from the crank case in parallel relation to the longitudinal axis thereof; an outboard support receiving the power shaft of the engine, means for securing said panel andy outboard support in rigid relation to the lower case section, and means including. a groove in the hollow cover section closely receiving the'v upper edge portion of the panel when the hollow cover section is lowered into assembled relation to the lower case section, whereby to support the panel in rigid relation to the assembled case.

4. In an engine shipping case for a radial aircraft engine having a generally cylindrical crank case portion projecting from the center of the group of cylinders, said shipping case comprising a lower generally rectangular case section anda hollow generally rectangular' cover section adapted to be assembled on the lower case section to enclose an engine supported on the latter, an engine of the kind mentioned, andi an engine supporting panel split in the middle where an opening receiving the crank* case portion of the engine is provided, wherebyy to permit placing and fastening the engine rst on one half of the panel andi then placing the other half in coplanar relation to therst half andi fastening the same to the engine, means for rigidly securing the engine to the coplanar panel halves when disposed in the opening serving to hold said panel halves together to form an integral, panel and means including grooves in` the side portions of the lower case section and in the top wall ofthe cover section closely receiving edge portions of said panel' for support thereof in rigid relation to the assembled case. U

5. In an engine shipping case for a radial aircraft engine having a general-lyA cylindrical crank case portion projecting fromA the center of. the group of cylinders, said shipping case comprising a substantially rectangular case-bottom and a four-sided case-cover detachably securableto the case-bottom to enclose an engine supported on the case-bottom, an engine of the kind mentioned, and` engine supporting means comprising a substantially rectangular panel` disposed substantially in; right angle relation to the case-bottom, means for rigidly securing said engine on said panel, means for rigidly supporting the panel on the case-bottom independently of the casecoi/enl and means. providing.' a. channel on Athe inner side of the case on the top thereof to close- 6 ly receive the upper edge portion of said panelf for support of the panel against lateral displacement with respect to the case-cover, the panel supporting means and last mentioned means4 cooperating when` the case-cover is secured to the casebottom to provide rigid support for the enfgine supporting panel.

6. An engine shipping case as set forth in clairnf wherein the engine has a power shaft projecting from the crank case in parallel. relation tothe longitudinal axis thereof, the shipping case including an outboard support-'in spaced relation to the engine supporting panel carrying a bearing whose longitudinal axis is* substantially longitudinally aligned with the enginereceiving opening in theY panel receiving the power shaft ot' the engine to provide auxiliary support for the engine, and means for securing said support in rigid' relation to the casebottomindependently of' the cover.

'1. In an engine shipping case for a radial aircraft engine having a generally cylindrical crank casey portion projecting from the center of the group of cylinders, said shipping case comprising a substantial-ly rectangular case-bottom and a foursided case-cover detachably securable to the casebottom to enclose an engine supported on the caseebottom, an engine of the kind mentioned, engine supporting means comprising asuhstantiall-y rectangular panel on which said en gine isl rigidly secured disposed substantially in right angle relation to the case-bottom, means for rigidly supporting the panel on the case-bottom independently of the casecover, and means providing channels on the' inner sides of the case-- cover onl opposite sides of the panel and across the top thereof slidably receiving the opposed edge portions and top portion of said panel for support of the panel against lateral displacement with respect to the oase-cover, the panel supporting means and last mentioned means cooperating when thecase-cover is secured to the ease-bottom to provide rigid support for the engine supporting panel.

8. An engine shipping case as set forth in claim 7, wherein the engine hasy a powerV shaft project-ing fromV the crank case in parallel relation to the longitudinal axis thereof, the shipping case includingan outboard support in spaced relation to the engine supporting panel carrying a bearing Whose longitudinal axis is substantially longitudinally aligned with the engine receiving openlng in the panel receiving the power shaft of the engine to provide auxiliary support for the engine, andV means for securing said support in rigid relation to the case-bottom indeygiendf'ently of the cover.

9; In an engine shipping case for a radial aircraft engine having a generally cylindrical crank case portion projecting from the ce'nter of the group of cylinders, said shipping case comprising a substantially rectangular case-bottom and a four-sided case-cover detachably securahle to the case-bottom to enclose an engine supported on the case-bottom, an engine of the kind men-` tioned, engine supporting means comprising a substantially rectangular panel on which said" engine'is rigidly secured disposed substantially in-right angle relation to the case-bottom, means providingv a channel in the case-bottom for supporting engagement therein of the lower edge' portion of the panel; bracing means for rigidly supporting the'panel relative to the case-bottom* independently of' the caeeeoover, and means prei? viding channelson the inner 'sides or the cases case-bottom to provide rigid covergon opposite sides of the panel `slidably receiving the opposed edge portions of said panel for support of the panelagainst lateral displacement with respect to the case-cover,V theV bracing means'and channelmeans cooperating when the case-cover is secured to the case-bottomto provide rigid support for the engine supporting panel. i '10; VIn an engine shippingcase for a radial aircraft engine having a generally cylindrical crank the case-bottom, an engine of the kind mentioned, engine supporting means comprising a substanl tially rectangular panel on which said engine Yis rigidly secured disposed substantially in .right angle-relation tothe case-bottom, means providing a channel in the case-bottom for supporting engagement therein of the lower edge portion of the panel, bracing means for rigidly supporting the panel relative to the case-bottom independentlyV of the case-cover, and means providing a channelon the inner side of the case on the top thereof to receive the upper edge portion of said panel for support of the panel against lateral displacement with respect to the case-cover, the

bracingmeans and channel means cooperating when the case-cover is secured to the case-bottom A I to provide rigid'support for the engine support- Y ing panel.

1l. `Inan engine shippingcase, comprising a substantially,rectangular case-bottom and a four- Y -sided c ase-cover detachably securable to the casebottom to enclose an engine supported on thecase-bottom, engine supporting means comprising a substantially rectangular panel disposed substantially in right angle relation to the case- -bottom, said case-bottom comprising two panels of Ynon-metallic sheet material interconnected in co-planar relation by a sheet metal channelmember in which the lower edge portion of the Y engine supporting panel is adapted to be engaged for support, bracing means for rigidly supporting .the panel relative to the case-bottom inde- Y. lpendrently of the case-cover, and said case-cover having atop Wall comprising two panels of non- Vmetallic sheet' material .interconnected -in-'coplanar'relation by a sheet metal channel member .in which the upperedge of the engine supporting panel is adapted to be engaged for support against lateral `displacement with respect to the case- Y cover, thebracing means and channel means cooperating When the case-cover isY secured Vto the support for the engine supporting panel. Y

12. In an engine shipping case, comprising a substantially rectangular case-bottom and a four-sided case-cover detachably securable -to the case-bottom Vto enclose an engine supported on A the-case-bottom, engine supporting meanscomprising a substantially rectangular *panelV disposed substantially in rightangle relation to the case-bottom, bracing means Vfor rigidsupport of 'the panel relative to Vthecase-bottoin independentlyV of theV case-cover, and said `case-'cover having opposed sidewalls 1 each made of two panelsY of non-'metallic sheet material interconnected in coplanar-relation by a sheetrmetal tion .of the engine supporting panel sections is Y adapted -to be engaged for support of the panel against lateral displacement with respect tothe channel member in which the adjacentredge por- Y cooperating when the case-coverv is secured to the'case-bottom-to provide rigid 'support for the engine supporting panel.

-13. In an engine, shipping case, comprising a substantially rectangular case-bottom and a four-sidedV case-cover detachably securable to the case-bottom to enclose a radial aircraft vengine supported on Ythe case-bottom, an engine of the kind mentioned,v engine supporting means comprising a substantially rectangular panel on which said engine is rigidlysecured disposed substantially in right angle relation 'to the case-bottom, brace rods connected to said panel and disposed diagonally vbetween said panel and the case. bottom, and an outboard support vfor the engine. mounted onv the case-bottom in spaced relation to the 'aforesaid panel and adapted to Vprovide support for the propeller Vshaft of the Y' vent Adisplacement -of said outboard support re- 25V lative'to'said panel and maintain the Ysame in rigidrrelation to the case-bottom.

14. In an engine shipping case, comprising a substantially rectangular case-bottom and a foursided case-cover detachably securable to the casebottom to enclose. a radial aircraft engine supported on the case-bottom, an engineofy the kind mentioned, engine supporting 'means comprising a .substantially rectangular panel on which said engine is rigidly-secured disposed substantially in right angle relation to thecase-bottom, brace-rods connected to said panel Vand disposed diagonally between said panel and the case bottom,A and an outboard support for the engine mounted on the case-bottom in Yspaced Vrelation tothe aforesaid panel Yand Yadapted to provide support for the propeller shaft of the engine, brace rods, connected'to said outboard support and disposed diagonally rbetween said .outboard support and the case-bottom and having Ytheir lower Yends in overlappingY relation to the lower ends of the brace rods for the aforesaid panel, bolts interconnecting the overlappingrlower ends of the tworsets of brace rods and fastening the same to the case bottom, to prevent displacement of said outboard support relative to said panel and maintain the panel andoutboard support in rigid relation to the case-bottom, and skids secured to the underside of the case-bottom having the said bolts extendedztherethrough and through the case-bottomv and projecting upwardly from the case-bottornforV interconnection of said brace rods. y l

GEORGE H. ALLINGTON.

le of this patent:Y

. UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Y Name Y Date 4379, 562 Richards V Oct. 28, 1890 1,257,571 1 Am1ck' Eenzc, 191s '1,604,860 van Der Meer oct-26, 1926 2,300,259f Kueppers; oct. 27, 1942 2,341,801 YMiner Feb. 15, 1944 Y FOREIGN PATENTS Number country Y Date 

